The September 2017 elections will be a historic milestone in the life of the Māori Party when we reclaim and secure the six Māori electorate seats.

The Māori Party represents the dreams and aspirations of all Māori who believe that we have a right to share political power and resources as was envisaged under ‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi.’

The strategic priority is to galvanise our people around a movement for progress, never forgetting that our party was forged from the fire lit by the Labour Government when they confiscated our rights and interests to the seabed and foreshore.

This year is more than fighting for our political survival. It’s about sending a clear and undeniable message that the Māori Party is the only genuine and independent Māori voice in Parliament. Our MPs are most effective when they are in Government and able to bring about legislative and social change for Māori.

We will not be subservient to the Pākēha and tokenistic Māori leadership in the mainstream political parties. Where Māori priorities and issues become unimportant and often left in the ‘too hard to do’ basket. Our wero and call to arms is Mana Motuhake – our right to shape our own destiny.

MĀORI SEATS CAMPAIGN

Our goal is clear and simple: to secure the six Māori seats we are contesting. In order to achieve that we must break the dependency and reliance our people have with the Labour Party. Our strategy has to be distinctive and exciting so that our people know we are the only, viable option.

We are indebted to Te Ururoa and Marama who have laid a sold foundation of accomplishments. Their track record of delivery as an efficient coalition partner in Government is remarkable and must be emphasised as significant achievements while Labour has been languishing in opposition not able to do anything for Māori for 9 years.

There is a greater sense of urgency as we begin to roll out our 2017 election campaign.

The media announcement of our Tai Tonga candidate on June 27 in Wellington will bring to an end our selection process to assemble a high quality line up of Māori Party candidates. They bring an impressive and diverse range of skills necessary to extract the greatest value from the political process.

They are leaders in their own fields of work and endeavours. Collectively they bring a new dynamism to politics where service to our communities is first and foremost. We must make 2017 count. We must make the new Government Māori.

At the vanguard of our 2017 Māori seats campaign are:

Te Ururoa Flavell

Waiariki

Marama Fox

Ikaroa-Rāwhiti

Howie Tamati

Tai Hauāuru

Rahui Papa

Hauraki-Waikato

Shane Taurima

Tāmaki Makaurau

What is obvious is that we have a winning team. A stunning group of candidates who will excite and re-engage our people in the democratic process. Our Tai Tonga candidate too has impeccable credentials with work experience in New Zealand, New York and Australia. The opportunity to launch our final member in front of the ‘whose who’ of Wellington at the end of the month is an exciting prospect.

PARTY VOTE CAMPAIGN

Running alongside our campaign to win the six Māori seats is the party vote strategy.

For far too long we have travelled at the back of the electoral bus. The time has come to take control of the bus and the direction it travels.

The appeal for the party vote is heightened by our line-up of general and list candidates. By standing high quality people with significant name recognition, we will maximise our chances of picking up additional votes. That means widening and extending our search for candidates into other cultures and communities.

The Māori Party is the ultimate korowai, sheltering and nurturing all cultures. In other words, the Māori Party can be likened to the eye of the needle through which the black, red and white thread must pass as characterised by Kiingi Taawhiao – “Kotahi ano te kowhao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro pango, te miro whero me te miro ma.”

One Pacific, One Whānau

The partnership agreement with One Pacific, a political movement and platform of Pacific people, aiga and communities, is a major development and has the potential to be a game changer. The proposed relationship is based on whakapapa ties and our tikanga of Tuakana and Teina. As mana whenua we have a kaitiaki responsibility to look after those who choose Aotearoa as their home.

The agreement includes Pacific candidates contesting specific general seats in Auckland with high Pacific populations. They include Manukau East, Mangere, Maungakiekie, Mt Roskill and Wellington-based Mana seat.

One Pacific ran 21 candidates in the recent local body elections in Auckland. Their candidates are battle-hardened, experienced and ready to stand under the banner of the Māori Party.

We also have a range of extremely talented general seat and list candidates from of all cultures. Our line-up is representative of the diverse multicultural face of modern Aotearoa New Zealand. They are of mix of youth and experience, all committed to securing a better, safer and caring New Zealand.

At the vanguard of our 2017 party vote campaign:

Tuilagi Saipele

Manukau East

Esther Tofilau

Mangere

Manase Lua

Maungakiekie

John Kiria

Mt Roskill

Wetex Kang

Botany

Cinnamon Whitlock

Kelston

Carrie Stoddart

Pakuranga

Tasha Hohaia

Manurewa

Raewyn Bhana

Pukekohe

George Ngatai

Papakura

Boris Samujh

Hamilton West

Debbie Packer

List

Amiria Te Whiu

List

Hinurewa Te Hau

List

Te Waka McLeod

List

As party members we need to give all our candidates a clear head start by gathering a minimum of 2,000 votes per electorate and ensuring they vote prior to the September 23 election day. Our role is to grow our immediate reach and influence amongst our own families, hapū, iwi and communities so that we in turn can build a solid support base for our candidates.

There is no room for complacency and victory at the polls will only be achieved by hard work and commitment. I urge party members to volunteer their services to help electorate committees to deliver pamphlets, put up billboards, door knock and other necessary activities.

We are competing against a well-funded and well-organised Labour Party that is driven to win the forthcoming elections at all cost. They have a shared strategy with the Greens to demonise and undermine our party in all forums.

2017 POLICY MANIFESTO

Our policy team has met a number of times over the last two months. A draft policy document was sent to the Māori electorates for their feedback and a final 2017 policy manifesto was presented and approved at our National Council meeting on June 10. Once the graphic design and formatting has been completed, it will be uploaded onto our website before the end of June.